diff --git a/components/SettingsUI/SynchronizationSettings.tsx b/components/SettingsUI/SynchronizationSettings.tsx
index 90b3d55..15a1f8c 100644
--- a/components/SettingsUI/SynchronizationSettings.tsx
+++ b/components/SettingsUI/SynchronizationSettings.tsx
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@ export const SynchronizationSettings: React.FC<Props> = ({
 	onChange,
 }) => {
 	const handleExport = async () => {
-		await settingsService.syncToExternalFile();
+		await settingsService.syncToExternalFile(true);
 		alert("Plugin settings exported successfully.");
 	};
 
 	const handleImport = async () => {
-		await settingsService.loadFromExternalFile();
+		await settingsService.loadFromExternalFile(true);
 		alert("Plugin settings imported successfully.");
 	};
 
diff --git a/core/settingsService.ts b/core/settingsService.ts
index 7dd564e..9c859e5 100644
--- a/core/settingsService.ts
+++ b/core/settingsService.ts
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@ class SettingsService {
 		await this.plugin.saveData(this.settings);
 	}
 
-	async syncToExternalFile() {
-		if (!this.settings.enableExternalStatusSync) return;
+	async syncToExternalFile(force = false) {
+		if (!this.settings.enableExternalStatusSync && !force) return;
 
 		const path = normalizePath(this.settings.externalStatusSyncPath);
 		const data = {
@@ -99,8 +99,8 @@ class SettingsService {
 		}
 	}
 
-	async loadFromExternalFile() {
-		if (!this.settings.enableExternalStatusSync) return;
+	async loadFromExternalFile(force = false) {
+		if (!this.settings.enableExternalStatusSync && !force) return;
 		const path = normalizePath(this.settings.externalStatusSyncPath);
 		if (!(await this.plugin.app.vault.adapter.exists(path))) return;